The true story of Mons Meg Extracted from "The Archaeological Journal" Volume 10, 1853. The paper discloses historical record disproving the tradition that 'Mons Meg' was forged at Carlingwark specially for the bombardment of Threave Castle. THE ANCIENT BOMBARD, PRESERVED AT EDINBURGH CASTLE. Cannon, constructed of iron staves bound together with hoops of the same material, were in use for so long a period that it becomes very difficult, in the absence of written testimony or well-authenticated tradition, to assign a date to any particular examples that may have come down to us. Of the great gun of Ghent, which, except in its dimensions, is almost identical with Mons Meg, Captain Fave has recorded his belief that it is in all probability the very "bombarde merveilleusement grande" mentioned by Froissard as employed by the citizens of Ghent against their neighbours of Oudenarde. And that cannon of this fashion were still in use in the days of Henry VIII., is a fact familiar to us all from the well-known operations upon the wreck of the Mary Rose.

Famous guns, like famous nations, begin their history in the faltering accents of tradition. The early days of Mons Meg are chronicled in a Galloway legend; which, however, had so much weight with Sir Walter Scott that he wrote to Mr. Train, a distinguished Scottish antiquary, who had communicated to him the local story with such corroborative facts as he could collect: "You have traced her propinquity so clearly as henceforth to set all conjecture aside." The legend in question has been preserved in Wilson's "Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time" as follows: "The Earl of Douglas having seized Sir Patrick McLellan, Tutor of Bomby, the Sheriff of Galloway and chief of a powerful clan, carried him prisoner to Threave Castle, where he caused him to be hanged on 'The Gallows Knob’ a granite block which still remains, projecting over the main gateway of the Castle. The act of forfeiture, passed by Parliament in 1455, at length furnished an opportunity, under the protection of government, of throwing off that iron yoke of the Douglases under which Galloway had groaned for upwards of eighty years.

When James the Second arrived with an army at Carlingwark, to besiege the Castle of Threave, the McLellans presented him with the piece of ordnance now called ' Mons Meg.’ The first discharge of this great gun is said to have consisted of a peck of powder and a granite ball nearly as heavy as a Galloway cow. This ball is believed, in its course through the Castle of Threave, to have carried away the hand of Margaret de Douglas, commonly called the Fair Maid of Galloway, as she sat at table with her lord, and was in the act of raising the wine-cup to her lips. Old people still maintain that the vengeance of God was thereby evidently manifested, in destroying the hand which had been given in wedlock to two brothers, and that even while the lawful spouse of the first was alive. As a recompense for the present of the gun, and for the loyalty of the McLellans, the king, before leaving Galloway, raised the town of Kirkcudbright into a Royal Burgh, and granted to Brawny Kim, the smith, the lands of Mollance in the neighbourhood of Threave Castle.

Hence the smith was called Mollance, and his wife's name being Meg, the cannon, in honour of her, received the appellative of 'Mollance Meg.’ There is no smithy now at the 'Three Thorns of the Carlingwark ;' but a few years ago, when making the great military road to Portpatrick, which passes that way, the workmen had to cut through a deep bed of cinders and ashes, which plainly showed that there had been an extensive forge on that spot at some former period." In addition to this, (adds the correspondent of Sir Walter,) Symson, in his work written nearly a hundred and sixty years ago, says: "The common report also goes in that country, that in the Isle of Threaves, the great iron gun in the Castle of Edinburgh, commonly called Mount Meg, was wrought and made." To the above tradition the sober-minded archaeologist will probably object that it is of somewhat too melodramatic a character.

"Brawny Kim," and the Tutor of Bomby, King James and the rebel Douglas might have passed; but the shot of retribution, - as heavy as a cow, and impelled by a peck of powder, - passing through the walls of the Castle, straight into the banqueting-room of the Fair Maid of Galloway, dashing the wine-cup from her perjured lips, and carrying off her hand; that very hand which had been given in wedlock to two brothers, and given moreover while the lawful spouse of the first was alive: all this smacks too much of the minnesinger's budget to be readily accepted as true history. The transition too from Mollance to Mons is sufficiently violent, besides having no voucher in contemporary records. But worse than this is, the Lady of Mollance, Brawny Kim's wife Meg, being called in to stand parcell-godmother to the great gun, when we know that in all the ancient records in which it is mentioned, the name Meg never appears: the piece is simply called Mons, and the first writer who applies to it the name of Meg is Drummond of Hawthornden.

While, however, we hesitate to give full belief to the tradition as it stands, let us remember that we have it in an accumulated form: and that, divested of the marvellous incidents with which three hundred years' currency among the gossips of Galloway may have embellished it, there is nothing in the simple history itself that may not possibly be true. The first appearance of Mons for which we have a contemporary voucher, is on the expedition of James IV. to besiege Dumbarton, when she was brought forth from Edinburgh Castle and carried to take part in the attack. In the accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland of that period, under date of 10 July, 1489, we have: "Item, given to the gunners to drink-silver when they cartit Monss, by the king's command, xviij shillings." In 1497 the great gun was again withdrawn from the Castle of Edinburgh and carried in solemn procession to Holyrood House, from whence she was taken by James IV. to the siege of Norham Castle. In the Scottish Treasury accounts of this time are many interesting notices of our bombard.

She was mounted on a new carriage for the occasion, as appears by the following entries:- July 24, 1497. "Item, to pynouris to bere ye trees to be Mons new cradill to her at St. Leonard's quhare scho lay, iij sh. vi d." July 28. "Item, for xiij stane of irne to make graith (gear) to Monsis new cradill and gavilokkis (iron crows) to gu with her, xxx sh. iiij d." "Item, to vij wrights for twa dayis and a half ya maid Monsis cradill, xxiij sh. iiij d." Among other entries of the same period we have:- "Item, for viij elne of canwas to be Mons claiths to cover her." Another item is for painting the canvas.

“Item, to the Minstralis that playit before Mons doune the gait, xiiij sh." In 1501, 1527, 1532, and 1539 various payments are recorded for the well-keeping of Mons and her carriage. On one occasion she is "ourelaid with reed leid" and her "quheles and extreis creischit (wheels and axletrees greased) with Orknay butter." In 1558, on the rejoicings consequent on the marriage of Queen Mary with the Dauphin of France, the great gun was again in request; for, on the 3rd of July in that year, we find this payment made by order of the Queen Regent: "To certain pyonaris for thair labouris in the * * * of Mons furth of her lair, to be schote, and for the finding and carrying of hir bullet efter scho was schot, fra Weirdie Mure (Wardie Muir is fully two miles from the castle) to the Castell of Edinburgh, x s.

viii d." In 1578, among the "Towellis, Plenissingis (furniture), Artaillierie and Munitioun within the Castell of Edinburgh, pertening to our Soverane Lord and hienes derrest Moder," our bombard again appears as " Ane grit peice, of forgit yron, callit Mons." In 1633, when King Charles I.

visited Edinburgh, Mons was found unfit to join in the salute which welcomed His Majesty from the Castle : " Item, to * * * * for rining and wining of the tuich hole of the iron peice that had beene poysoned thir many yeares by gane, iij * * *." At the surrender of Edinburgh Castle in 1650, Mons appears under a new style and title: "The great Iron Murderer called Muckle Meg;" and in another document she is denominated “the Great Mag." Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall, in his Historical Notices of Scottish Affairs, records that in October, 1680, "the Duke of York having visited the Castle of Edinburgh, - for a testimony of joy, the gun called Muns Meg being charged by the advice of ane English Canonier, in the shooting was riven; which some foolishly called a bad omen.

The Scots resented it extremely, thinking the Englishman might of malice have done it purposely, they having no cannon in all England so big as she." In Maitland's History of Edinburgh, published in 1753, we read: "Adjoining to the fourth or innermost gate of the Castle, on the ground, lies a huge piece of ordnance denominated Mounts Meg." By the phrase, "on the ground," it would appear that Mons was at this time without a carriage.

In 1754 our venerable bombard, riven, rusty, and carriageless, was sent to England; but she does not seem to have quitted the land of her glories without a plunge, for in the Tower books of this date we find John Dick applying to the Board of Ordnance for compensation "for injury to his vessel and hawser on shipping the great gun at Leith for conveyance to the Tower." In 1829, on an application to George the Fourth, in which Sir Walter Scott was prominently active, Mons Meg was restored to Scotland; and in her march from Leith to Edinburgh she was "attended in grand procession, and with a military Guard of Honour, to her ancient quarters in the Castle." Under date of June, 1835, the Officer commanding Royal Artillery at Leith Fort informs the Board of Ordnance that "the large gun called Mons Meg, placed in the Battery in the Castle of Edinburgh, fell down with a great crash." The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland also report the wreck of "the old wooden carriage, which had crumbled almost to dust," and pray the Board to grant the supply of a new one.

In accordance with this wish, a new carriage was constructed at the Royal Carriage Department at Woolwich, and forwarded to Edinburgh in 1836. It is of cast-iron, and still supports the honoured remains of The Great Murtherer. The name of Mons borne by this bombard is generally attributed to its having been fabricated at the town of that name in Flanders; and this probability seems to gather strength from the circumstance of the great gun of Ghent resembling it so closely in model and construction. Hall tells us besides how James II. of Scots in 1460 besieged Roxburgh Castle with "his newe Bombarde lately cast in Flaunders, called the Lion." At various periods of her career, the appearance of Mons Meg has been preserved by the arts of portraiture: by the sculptor, the modeller, and the engraver.

An ancient sculptured stone, apparently of the close of the sixteenth century, which once formed part of a gateway in Edinburgh Castle, and is now fixed over the entrance to the Ordnance Office there, exhibits the figure of Mons mounted on one of her old "cradills." In the "Memorials of Edinburgh" is an engraving of this stone, which, by the kindness of the author, we are enabled to place before our readers. The appearance of Mons, when forming one of the "Lions" of the Tower, may be seen in the model which is still preserved in the Tower Armories. The engraving at the commencement of this paper is from a drawing also preserved in the Tower; the one furnished by Lieutenant Bingham, R.A., for the purpose of constructing that new carriage which, we have seen, was supplied in 1836. On the technical accuracy, therefore, both of forms and figures, we may entirely rely.

The Commanding Officer of Royal Artillery, in forwarding this drawing from Scotland, communicates also the traditional account, that "the fracture disclosing the longitudinal bars took place the last time the gun was fired." It is scarcely necessary to say that the bursting of the cannon may be attributed to the increased strength of the powder of the seventeenth century as compared with "a peck" of that of the fifteenth. Of the extraordinary charges used anciently for various kinds of gonnes, there is no more curious instance than that cited by Captain Fave (Du feu Gregeois, &c., p. 158), from an old treatise of "Canonnerie," of unknown date, printed at Paris in 1561.

To charge your "baston de canonnerie :" "Vous debvez mesurer la longueur du baston par dedans, despuis la bouche d'iceluy jusques au fond, et icelle longueur diviser en cinq parties egales; desquelles l’une sera pour mettre le tampon, et l’autre sera vuide, et les autres dernieres doivent estres chargees de bonne poudre." That is, the charge of "strong powder" is to occupy three-fifths of the barrel. The mode of construction of the Scottish Gun is plainly shown at the point where it has been "riven." Longitudinal strips of iron are ranged like the staves of a cask and welded together; and then a number of rings or hoops, also of wrought iron, are driven tightly over them. The thickness of the bars is 2½ inches ; that of the hoops, 3½ inches. There is no core beneath the strips, as in some early bar-and-hoop guns (for instance, Nos. 118 and 119 of the collection at the Royal Military Repository at Woolwich); but the welded staves themselves form the concave cylinder.

The magnitude of this engine, the contrivance of its parts, and the nice proportions of its outline, show that it is by no means one of the earliest efforts of the gunsmith's art. Cannon at first were conical in form, a curious example of which will be found in a Sloane manuscript in the British Museum, No. 2433, vol. B, fol. 113; figured by Strutt in his Dress and Habits, and by the Emperor of the French in his Etudes sur l’Artillerie. When first made cylindrical, the gun would probably be of equal thickness throughout. The next step would be to strengthen the portion near the charge. Further experiences would show that the action of the powder on the various parts of the piece would be best met by a graduated construction; and thus we arrive at the plan of the gun before us; consisting of chamber, first and second reinforce, and chase. To such a model one can scarcely accord a higher antiquity than about the middle of the fifteenth century.

The apertures shown at the base ring and at the upper end of the chamber are of unusual occurrence; but they are found in the Great Gun of Ghent, and appear also in the figure of an ancient pierrier given by Ufano. The purpose of them, according to the local tradition (for the communication of which we are indebted to Robert M'Kerlie, Esq., Ordnance Storekeeper at Edinburgh Castle), was "for moving Mons Meg from her bed or ' lair,’ when that was found necessary, by means of iron levers." Monstrelet, under the year 1478, has an amusing account of the trial of a "grosse bombarde," carrying a ball of "ccccc livres de fer," made at Tours; which may be consulted by those who find interest in the details of the early days of "Canonnerie." J Hewitt. Mons Meg | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit The bombard was manufactured from longitudinal bars of iron, hooped with rings fused into one mass.

[1] The barrel is attached to the powder chamber by means of a groove on the powder chamber into which lugs on the end of the barrel staves fit, and then bound permanently together by the hoops. The powder chamber itself is made from small pieces of iron hammer welded together to make a solid wrought-iron forging. [2] The Duke's artillery maker Jehan Cambier constructed it, and it was successfully tested at Mons in the County of Hainaut in June 1449; however, the Duke did not take delivery of the Mons Meg until 1453. Desiring to "interfere in English affairs"[ citation needed ], the Duke decided to help the Scots against the English. Mons Meg weighs 15,366 pounds (6,970 kg), is 15 feet (4.6 m) in length, and has a calibre of 20 inches (510 mm). The final cost of the gun was £1,536. 2s.

The most famous legend about its manufacture is that it was built by the blacksmith of Threave order to aid James II in the 1452 siege of Threave Castle in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright , when the Clan MacLellan used it to batter the castle, and is named after his wife. [2] The 20-inch (510 mm) calibre cannon accepted balls that weighed about 400 pounds (180 kg), although it could only be fired 8-10 times a day due to the tremendous heat generated by the powder charge required.[ citation needed ] It has been suggested that Meg was one of the armaments on James IV 's carrack , the Great Michael , which would make it the ship with the largest calibre gun in history. In early years the gun, like the other royal cannon, was painted with red lead to keep it from rusting. This cost 30 shillings in June 1539. [3] From the 1540s Meg was retired from active service and was fired only on ceremonial occasions from Edinburgh Castle, from where shot could be found up to two miles distant.

When Mons was fired on 3 July 1558, soldiers were paid to find and retrieve the shot from Wardie Muir , near the Firth of Forth, a distance of two miles. [2] The salute marked the solemnization of the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots to the French Dauphin . [4] The gun was fired in 1680 to celebrate the arrival of James, Duke of Albany and York , latterly King James VII of Scotland and II of England, but the barrel burst. An English cannoneer had loaded the charge and many Scots believed that the damage was done on purpose out of jealousy, because the English had no cannon as big as this. The incident was also seen as a bad omen for the future King. [5] The cannon was left outside Foog's Gate at Edinburgh Castle. It was next taken, with other disused ordnance, to the Tower of London in 1754, as a result of the disarming acts against Jacobites aimed at removing weapons or spare cannon from the reach of rebellious folk.

[6] It was returned to the Castle in 1829 by order of George IV after a series of campaigns by Sir Walter Scott and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. [6] Following a restoration, it now sits outside St. Margaret's Chapel . "Mons Meg was a large old-fashioned piece of ordnance, a great favourite with the Scottish common people; she was fabricated at Mons in Flanders, in the reign of James IV. or V. of Scotland. This gun figures frequently in the public accounts of the time, where we find charges for grease, to grease Meg's mouth withal (to increase, as every schoolboy knows, the loudness of the report), ribands to deck her carriage, and pipes to play before her when she was brought from the Castle to accompany the Scottish army on any distant expedition. After the Union, there was much popular apprehension that the Regalia of Scotland, and the subordinate Palladium, Mons Meg, would be carried to England to complete the odious surrender of national independence. The Regalia, sequestered from the sight of the public, were generally supposed to have been abstracted in this manner.

As for Mons Meg, she remained in the Castle of Edinburgh, till, by order of the Board of Ordnance, she was actually removed to Woolwich about 1757. The Regalia, by his Majesty's special command, have been brought forth from their place of concealment in 1818, and exposed to the view of the people, by whom they must be looked upon with deep associations; and, in this very winter of 1828–9, Mons Meg has been restored to the country, where that, which in every other place or situation was a mere mass of rusty iron, becomes once more a curious monument of antiquity" Notes to Rob Roy, Sir Walter Scott . The gun is not called "Mons Meg" in any contemporary references until 1678. In 1489, she first appears in record as "Monss", [7] and in the painter's account of 1539 she is called; "Monce in the castell," the only piece with an individual name.

In 1650 she was noted as "Muckle Meg." [3] "Meg" may either be a reference to Margaret of Denmark , Queen of James III of Scotland , or simply an alliteration, while Mons was one of the locations where the cannon was originally tested. McKenzie records that this class of artillery was known as a murderer and Mons Meg was certainly described as such. [8] Besides the Mons Meg, a number of 15th-century European superguns are known to have been employed primarily in siege warfare, including the wrought-iron pieces Pumhart von Steyr and Dulle Griet as well as the cast-bronze Faule Mette , Faule Grete and Grose Bochse . During the Hogmanay celebrations of 2009/2010 the District Gunner, Sgt Jamie Shannon (also known as "Shannon the Cannon") fired Mons Meg from Edinburgh Castle. [9] A cannonball was placed inside the weapon for visual effect, while the powder was ignited by use of a car battery.

Evolution of the carriage Edit Mons Meg at Edinburgh Castle in the 1680s, showing details of the carriage construction For a while in its early days the Mons sat on a plain box without any wheels. Evidently, when Mons Meg was removed from Edinburgh Castle in 1754, her carriage had long since rotted away. A contemporary account describes her as lying "on the ground" near the innermost gate to the castle. [10] Presumably the Ordnance Board fabricated a new carriage after her arrival at the Tower. In 1835, after the return of Mons Meg to Edinburgh Castle, the London-made carriage rotted away too and fabrication of a cast-iron replacement was undertaken. As we see Mons Meg today, it is mounted on a reproduction of the carriage depicted in a stone carving of ca. 1500 on a wall of Edinburgh Castle. Notes Edit ↑ Chambers, Robert (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh : W & R Chambers. p.

330 ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Bombards Mons Meg and her sisters" by Robert D Smith and Ruth Rhynas Brown, Royal Armouries Monograph number 1, 1989 ↑ 3.0 3.1 Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 7 (1907), 222. ↑ Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 1 (1877), ccxxiii footnote; vol. 10, (1913), lxxv-lxxvi, 367. ↑ Chambers, Robert (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh : W & R Chambers. p. 329. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Bombards Mons Meg and her sisters" by Robert D Smith and Ruth rhynas Brown, Royal Armouries Monograph number 1, 1989 ↑ Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 1, Edinburgh (1877), ccxx-ccxxiii, 115.

↑ McKenzie, Page 319 ↑ Mod national archives retrieved 17.00, 14/05/10 ↑ Blair, Claude (1967). A New Carriage for Mons Meg.Journal of the Arms and Armour Society London V(12) pages 431 - 452. See also The Royal Mile | Travel Blog The Royal Mile Edinburgh Castle Our first stop today was Edinburgh Castle. It is a pretty big complex. We saw the batteries where they had the 18-pound cannons, and one cannon is still in use today. They set it off everyday at 1pm so people can set thier clocks to it. They said that the reason why they didn't choose high noon was because they didn't want to use up 11 more rounds everyday. Another building we went to on the castle grounds was St. Margaret's Chapel. It is the oldest building in Edinburgh. They still have weddings there today, and the brides' fathers really like it because it can only hold 20 people. In front of St. Margaret's Chapel is a huge cannon called Mons Meg. It could fire 330-pound stones nearly 2 miles.

We also went to see Scotland's Crown Jewels. One thing I learned is that Queen Mary was crowned when she was just 9 months old. One interesting item they had in the display case with the crown jewels was the Stone of Destiny. All it is is a big piece of rock. It used to sit under the coronation chair at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth agreed to let the stone go Royal Mile home to Scotland, as long as it's returned to London for all future coronations. We also went in the Scottish National War Memorial. It is a really beautiful building and looks like a cathedral on the outside. It commemorates the Scottish soldiers lost in battle. As you leave the castle, you can see 2 statues of King Robert the Bruce and Sir William Wallace on either side of the gate. A Latin inscription above the gate reads, "What you do to us...we will do to you." After leaving the castle, we starting walking down the Royal Mile. This stretch of road connects Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Our first stop was the Tartan Weaving Mill, where we saw the machines that were making the tartans.

We then stopped and saw the Heart of Midlothian that's on the ground in front of St. Giles Cathedral. This marks the former spot of the gallows and prison. Traditionally, locals stand on the rim of the heart and spit into it, and if you hit the center, it brings good luck. We decided not to participate in this tradiion. We then went inside St. Giles Cathedral. The stained glass windows St. Giles Cathedral inside are so beautiful. There was also a really nice organ inside, and someone was playing it while we were in there. John Knox preached here, and is now buried out back--under parking spot 23. Also outside of St. Giles is Mercat Cross. On the very top of the column is a white unicorn. Royal proclamations have been made here since the 14th century, and in 1952, a town crier announced the news that England had a new queen. Our next stop was Demijohns, which is just off the Royal Mile. It's this really cool whisky shop where you can try out the different varieties, then pick out the size and shape of your bottle and have it filled with whatever you want.

After we made our selections, we walked down to the gardens by St. Andrews Square and had lunch. Since it was so early, we decided to take the bus out to Roslin and visit Rosslyn Chapel. Roslin is 7 miles outside Edinburgh, so we got to see the outskirts of the city. This chapel is believed to have ties with the Knights Templar. It is actually undergoing reconstruction right now, but the nice thing about Rosslyn Chapel that is you can go on the scaffolding and see the higher parts of the chapel up close. The inside has lots of stone carving. My favorite part was the ceiling, which is covered in stars and flowers. Another interesting part of the chapel is the Apprentice Pillar. The story goes that the master mason went on vacation to get inspiration for how he wanted to carve the pillar. when he was gone, his apprentice had a dream about how to carve the pillar, and when he woke up, he went and carved it. When the master returned, he saw what his apprentice did and was very jealous of his work, so he killed him.

After he was found guilty, they had the face of the master carved into the wall, facing the Apprentice Pillar, so he would have to look at it for all eternity. Another carving in the chapel appears to look like maize. This was first discovered in the New World, which had not happened yet when this chapel was made. It is thought that the Knights Templars might have travelled to the New World before Columbus discovered it. The History Blog » Blog Archive » Mons Meg leaves Edinburgh Castle for tune-up Mons Meg leaves Edinburgh Castle for tune-up Mons Meg, the six-ton 15th century cannon that guards the parapets of Edinburgh Castle , has left her post for the first time in 30 years . Before dawn on Monday, January 19th, a crew of specialists strapped Meg up so she could be gingerly lifted out of her carriage by a crane, loaded onto a flatbed truck and transported to an off-site facility where Historic Scotland experts will give her a thorough examination and do necessary conservation work. The oak and iron carriage that has been supporting her since 1934 also went along for the ride.

Here’s a neat timelapse of Mons Meg being lifted off her carriage while dawn breaks: Richard Welander, Head of Collections for Historic Scotland said: “Mons Meg undergoes regular ‘health checks’ each year and is lifted off its carriage every five years for a closer inspection. “This time it’s getting a major service, which means it must leave the castle for the first time for 30 years. The last time Mons Meg left was in March 1985, when she went to the Royal Armouries research establishment in Kent for a short technical examination. “We’ll be using state-of-the-art equipment to examine the cannon and carriage inside and out, to assess their condition. Then we’ll commence with treatment and restoration, which is a delicate and specialist task.” There have been a great many technological advances since the last time Mons Meg got the full treatment. Historic Scotland conservators will laser-scan the cannon and create a 3D model to reveal issues not visible to the naked eye. The current paint will be stripped using a pressure wash system and bead blasting. That will expose the iron surface for proper conservation. Once Meg is cleaned and dried, she will be re-coated in protective paint.

Historic Scotland is hoping their conservation analysis will also shed some light on the history of the cannon. Much legend has grown up around her over the centuries, so this is an exciting opportunity to fill in a few blanks. Mons Meg was made in 1449 for Phillip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to present as a gift to King James II of Scotland, Phillip’s grand-nephew by marriage. (James’ queen consort was Mary of Guelders, daughter of Catherine of Cleves, whose mother Marie of Burgundy was Phillip’s elder sister.) It was constructed by Phillip’s artillery master Jehan Cambier in Mons, County of Hainaut (modern-day Belgium), out of iron staves clamped together by iron hoops. Its massive 20-inch barrel, still one of the largest cannon calibre in the world, could fire 330-pound balls up to two miles. James II took delivery of Mons Meg, known at the time just by variants of “Mons,” in 1454. Sixteen years later, he had the giant cannon transported 50 miles south to aid in the siege of Roxburgh Castle, one of the last remaining English strongholds in Scotland.

The Scottish forces were successful — they ultimately took the castle once and for all — but James was killed in action when one of his own bombards (not Meg) exploded. His wife Mary ordered Roxburgh Castle razed. The records of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland note an expenditure of 18 shillings on July 10th, 1489, to have “Monss” carried by command of King James IV, James II’s grandson, to besiege Dumbarton. There James IV deployed Meg’s might against an insurrection led by Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox, and Robert Lyle, Lord Lyle. That venture was less successful. The siege was broken by a negotiated surrender of the rebellious lords on condition that a new Parliament be convened. James used Mons Meg again in 1497 at the siege of Norham Castle in northern England. Meg did her part — the castle took a lot of damage — but the two-week siege ended when English reinforcements arrived. Meg was kept in fighting condition for a few more decades.

Her last military service was in James V’s navy, after which, from the 1540s or so, she was retired from active engagement but was fired on important ceremonial occasions like the signing of the treaty of marriage between five-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, and three-year-old Francis, Dauphin of France, in July 1558. She was fired for the last time on October 14th, 1681. Here’s a description of the event from the Domestic Annals of Scotland (1859) by Robert Chambers. The quote within the quote is from Historical Notices of Scottish Affairs (1848) by Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall. The Duke of York paying a visit to the Castle of Edinburgh, the huge cannon called Mons Meg was fired in his honour. The charge, which was done by an English cannoneer, had probably been too large, for it caused the piece to burst. This “some foolishly called a bad omen.

The Scots resented it extremely, thinking the Englishman might of malice have done it purposely, they having no cannon in all England so big as she.” I am trying really hard not to snicker at the obvious phallic competition inherent in this struggle. Trying and failing. With the burst hoop exposing her internal staves, Mons Meg could never be fired again. She still starred in several tugs of war between England and Scotland, though. In the wake of the Jacobite rebellion, in 1754 Mons Meg, now rusted, busted and sitting on the ground without even the dignity of a carriage, was confiscated along with other weapons to keep them out of reach of potential rebels. She was moved to the Tower of London, but she didn’t go quietly. The Tower records list a demand for compensation from the owner of the ship that brought her to London for damage to the vessel and mooring rope. In 1829, George IV had Mons Meg returned to Edinburgh as a result of a campaign by Sir Walter Scott and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Scott believed fervently in a legendary Galloway origin story for Mons Meg .

When James the Second arrived with an army at Carlingwark, to besiege the Castle of Threave, the McLellans presented him with the piece of ordnance now called ‘Mons Meg.’ The first discharge of this great gun is said to have consisted of a peck of powder and a granite ball nearly as heavy as a Galloway cow. This ball is believed, in its course through the Castle of Threave, to have carried away the hand of Margaret de Douglas, commonly called the Fair Maid of Galloway, as she sat at table with her lord, and was in the act of raising the wine-cup to her lips. Old people still maintain that the vengeance of God was thereby evidently manifested, in destroying the hand which had been given in wedlock to two brothers, and that even while the lawful spouse of the first was alive. Even without having amputated Margaret de Douglas’ hand, Mons Meg was and is still beloved. She was escorted back to Edinburgh Castle in 1829 by three cavalry troops and a regiment of foot, and remains today a great favorite with visitors to Edinburgh Castle. The conservation is expected to be complete and Mons Meg back in place outside St.

Margaret’s Chapel by the end of February. This entry was posted on Sunday, January 25th, 2015 at 4:19 AM and is filed under Medieval , Modern(ish) . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. Mons Meg MOT update | Edinburgh Castle Blog Mons Meg MOT update As Regional Collections Manager for Edinburgh, Rachael Dickson is responsible for the objects and artefacts at Edinburgh Castle and also the Mons Meg Project. In today’s post she explains the processes that have been carried out during the MOT. What’s happened Mons Meg undergoes regular annual conservation assessments and these have shown that the paint system requires a complete renewal and restoration work is necessary on oak carriage. The cannon was heavily over-painted, which obscures the condition of the iron underneath. The complete removal of the paint not only improves the appearance of the cannon but also gives us an opportunity to carry out a detailed condition assessment of the object. Conservators from AOC Archaeology Ltd. have carefully removed the paint from the cannon using a technique called abrasive blasting.

This involves propelling a stream of abrasive material, or media, under high pressure. The plastic media used on Mons Meg is made from ground up military buttons. This gently removes the paint layers but causes no damage to the metal below. Painting of the cannon Now we have completed the conservation stage, the next step is the careful painting of Mons Meg before she is returned to Edinburgh Castle . We are lucky to have a team of skilled painters at Historic Scotland , who are using the latest paint technologies to not only ensure she looks good but that she will be fully protected What’s been discovered The removal of the paint surface has given us an excellent opportunity to look in more detail at the surface of the cannon. We can see how she has been constructed – from iron bars held together in the shape of a barrel by means of iron hoops. We can also see the many extensive repairs she has undertaken over her career. Despite her robust appearance, Mons Meg is a fragile piece of artillery. Without her coat of paint we can see clearly the damage sustained when she burst her barrel in 1681. When Mons Meg is painted and displayed at the Castle in her usual orientation, this feature is not immediately obvious.

I am always finding out new things about Mons Meg and her history and keeping good records about our collections is an important part of my job. On a recent trip to Berwick-upon-Tweed I stopped in on our English Heritage colleagues to look at eight stone cannonballs that we believe may have been fired from Mons Meg during the siege of Norham Castle. An exciting prospect! United Kingdom Guide: Edinburgh, Discover Scotland's ancient capital city: Also known as the ‘Athens of the Articles Also known as the ‘Athens of the North,’ Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and has a long and varied history. Situated on an area of ancient volcanic activity extinct volcanoes such as the famous Arthur’s Seat and Castle Rock make Edinburgh a breathtaking place to visit. If you’re intrigued by its colourful and sometimes violent history, simply wish to wander Princes Street and sample some whisky or explore the alleyways of the Royal Mile; Edinburgh has something for you. No trip to Edinburgh would be complete without seeing some of its most famous attractions. Edinburgh Castle being Scotland’s number one tourist attraction. The castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline and has played a huge part in its history.

A royal castle since the 12th Century this ancient monument is open all year round (ex. December 25th & 26th). Aside from wandering the extensive grounds you should also see the Crown Jewels of Scotland, a massive medieval cannon called Mons Meg, the oldest building in Edinburgh - St. Margaret’s Chapel, the National War Museum and the stone of destiny. The Royal Mile follows on naturally after you have spent a couple of hours exploring all Edinburgh castle has to offer. This street runs downwards from the castle to Holyrood Palace and contains all things Scottish; from kilt rental shops to whisky specialists. The Royal Mile also contains many sights along its length. St. Giles’s Cathedral is found on your right as you walk down the street with its distinctive crown shaped spire. Further down the Mile on the right is the John Knox House, look inside at the wooden gallery and hand-painted ceiling. Holyrood Palace is found at the bottom of the Royal Mile opposite the Scottish Parliament Building and is the official residence of the Queen in Scotland. It is open to the public when the Queen is not in residence and highlights include the Great Gallery which contains portraits of the Kings of Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament Building is found opposite Holyrood Palace and is worth a look if only to marvel at the architecture that has divided the country, make your own mind up and go inside for a free guided tour. The National Museum of Scotland is great for a rainy day and has free entry. It is made up of two museums but you can move freely between them once inside. The Museum of Scotland contains exhibits that focus exclusively on Scotland, its culture, history and people. The Victorian Royal Museum covers a wide range of areas from natural history to art and technology. Edinburgh Zoo is a 10 minute bus ride from Princes Street and is Scotland’s second most popular tourist attraction. Set in attractively natural surroundings it houses over 1000 rare or endangered species. There are educational shows and animal encounters as well as a free hilltop safari. The Royal Yacht Britannia was considered a royal residence during its use from 1953 to 1997 as it transported members of the Royal Family around the globe and entertained many foreign dignitaries. Visitors can take a tour of the five decks and visit the state rooms as well as the engine rooms. Situated in Ocean Terminal it’s a short bus ride from Princes Street.

Reportedly one of the most haunted cities in the World, Edinburgh has a wealth of spooky ghost tours which will scare even the toughest visitors. Most popular tours take in the vaults, underground catacombs beneath the Old Town, and Mary King’s Close, an alleyway with a dark, plague past. Centred around the Royal Mile there are several well established tour companies that are easy to spot by their ‘creepy’ street representatives through whom you can book tours. Edinburgh is easily accessible by: Plane - Edinburgh International Airport has flights from many European and UK airports with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet. Connections by bus to the city centre take between 20 and 30 minutes. Train - High speed rail links connect Edinburgh to the rest of the UK a direct route runs cross-country from the south coast of England to Edinburgh. There are also regular trains from London Kings Cross to Waverly Station that take just under 5 hours. Coach - National Express and Megabus offer coach links with most English cities but be aware if you’re coming from London or the south of England coach times may take as long as 10 hours, but are often the cheapest option.

Car - Edinburgh is located in the heart of the Scottish motorway network so can be reached easily by car. Journey time from London is approximately seven and a half hours, with Glasgow only one hour away. Situated on an area of ancient volcanic activity extinct volcanoes such as the famous Arthur’s Seat and Castle Rock make Edinburgh a breathtaking place to visit. If you’re intrigued by its colourful and sometimes violent history, simply wish to wander Princes Street and sample some whisky or explore the alleyways of the Royal Mile; Edinburgh has something for you. No trip to Edinburgh would be complete without seeing some of its most famous attractions. Edinburgh Castle being Scotland’s number one tourist attraction. The castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline and has played a huge part in its history. A royal castle since the 12th Century this ancient monument is open all year round (ex. December 25th & 26th). Aside from wandering the extensive grounds you should also see the Crown Jewels of Scotland, a massive medieval cannon called Mons Meg, the oldest building in Edinburgh - St. Margaret’s Chapel, the National War Museum and the stone of destiny. The Royal Mile follows on naturally after you have spent a couple of hours exploring all Edinburgh castle has to offer.

This street runs downwards from the castle to Holyrood Palace and contains all things Scottish; from kilt rental shops to whisky specialists. The Royal Mile also contains many sights along its length. St. Giles’s Cathedral is found on your right as you walk down the street with its distinctive crown shaped spire. Further down the Mile on the right is the John Knox House, look inside at the wooden gallery and hand-painted ceiling. Holyrood Palace is found at the bottom of the Royal Mile opposite the Scottish Parliament Building and is the official residence of the Queen in Scotland. It is open to the public when the Queen is not in residence and highlights include the Great Gallery which contains portraits of the Kings of Scotland. The Scottish Parliament Building is found opposite Holyrood Palace and is worth a look if only to marvel at the architecture that has divided the country, make your own mind up and go inside for a free guided tour. The National Museum of Scotland is great for a rainy day and has free entry. It is made up of two museums but you can move freely between them once inside. The Museum of Scotland contains exhibits that focus exclusively on Scotland, its culture, history and people.

The Victorian Royal Museum covers a wide range of areas from natural history to art and technology. Edinburgh Zoo is a 10 minute bus ride from Princes Street and is Scotland’s second most popular tourist attraction. Set in attractively natural surroundings it houses over 1000 rare or endangered species. There are educational shows and animal encounters as well as a free hilltop safari. The Royal Yacht Britannia was considered a royal residence during its use from 1953 to 1997 as it transported members of the Royal Family around the globe and entertained many foreign dignitaries. Visitors can take a tour of the five decks and visit the state rooms as well as the engine rooms. Situated in Ocean Terminal it’s a short bus ride from Princes Street. Reportedly one of the most haunted cities in the World, Edinburgh has a wealth of spooky ghost tours which will scare even the toughest visitors. Most popular tours take in the vaults, underground catacombs beneath the Old Town, and Mary King’s Close, an alleyway with a dark, plague past. Centred around the Royal Mile there are several well established tour companies that are easy to spot by their ‘creepy’ street representatives through whom you can book tours.

Edinburgh is easily accessible by: Plane - Edinburgh International Airport has flights from many European and UK airports with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet. Connections by bus to the city centre take between 20 and 30 minutes. Train - High speed rail links connect Edinburgh to the rest of the UK a direct route runs cross-country from the south coast of England to Edinburgh. There are also regular trains from London Kings Cross to Waverly Station that take just under 5 hours. Coach - National Express and Megabus offer coach links with most English cities but be aware if you’re coming from London or the south of England coach times may take as long as 10 hours, but are often the cheapest option. Car - Edinburgh is located in the heart of the Scottish motorway network so can be reached easily by car. Journey time from London is approximately seven and a half hours, with Glasgow only one hour away.

The History Blog » 2015 » January » 25 The History Blog Mons Meg leaves Edinburgh Castle for tune-up Sunday, January 25th, 2015 Mons Meg, the six-ton 15th century cannon that guards the parapets of Edinburgh Castle , has left her post for the first time in 30 years . Before dawn on Monday, January 19th, a crew of specialists strapped Meg up so she could be gingerly lifted out of her carriage by a crane, loaded onto a flatbed truck and transported to an off-site facility where Historic Scotland experts will give her a thorough examination and do necessary conservation work. The oak and iron carriage that has been supporting her since 1934 also went along for the ride. Here’s a neat timelapse of Mons Meg being lifted off her carriage while dawn breaks: Richard Welander, Head of Collections for Historic Scotland said: “Mons Meg undergoes regular ‘health checks’ each year and is lifted off its carriage every five years for a closer inspection. “This time it’s getting a major service, which means it must leave the castle for the first time for 30 years.

The last time Mons Meg left was in March 1985, when she went to the Royal Armouries research establishment in Kent for a short technical examination. “We’ll be using state-of-the-art equipment to examine the cannon and carriage inside and out, to assess their condition. Then we’ll commence with treatment and restoration, which is a delicate and specialist task.” There have been a great many technological advances since the last time Mons Meg got the full treatment. Historic Scotland conservators will laser-scan the cannon and create a 3D model to reveal issues not visible to the naked eye. The current paint will be stripped using a pressure wash system and bead blasting. That will expose the iron surface for proper conservation. Once Meg is cleaned and dried, she will be re-coated in protective paint. Historic Scotland is hoping their conservation analysis will also shed some light on the history of the cannon. Much legend has grown up around her over the centuries, so this is an exciting opportunity to fill in a few blanks. Mons Meg was made in 1449 for Phillip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to present as a gift to King James II of Scotland, Phillip’s grand-nephew by marriage.

(James’ queen consort was Mary of Guelders, daughter of Catherine of Cleves, whose mother Marie of Burgundy was Phillip’s elder sister.) It was constructed by Phillip’s artillery master Jehan Cambier in Mons, County of Hainaut (modern-day Belgium), out of iron staves clamped together by iron hoops. Its massive 20-inch barrel, still one of the largest cannon calibre in the world, could fire 330-pound balls up to two miles. James II took delivery of Mons Meg, known at the time just by variants of “Mons,” in 1454. Sixteen years later, he had the giant cannon transported 50 miles south to aid in the siege of Roxburgh Castle, one of the last remaining English strongholds in Scotland. The Scottish forces were successful — they ultimately took the castle once and for all — but James was killed in action when one of his own bombards (not Meg) exploded. His wife Mary ordered Roxburgh Castle razed.

The records of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland note an expenditure of 18 shillings on July 10th, 1489, to have “Monss” carried by command of King James IV, James II’s grandson, to besiege Dumbarton. There James IV deployed Meg’s might against an insurrection led by Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox, and Robert Lyle, Lord Lyle. That venture was less successful. The siege was broken by a negotiated surrender of the rebellious lords on condition that a new Parliament be convened. James used Mons Meg again in 1497 at the siege of Norham Castle in northern England. Meg did her part — the castle took a lot of damage — but the two-week siege ended when English reinforcements arrived. Meg was kept in fighting condition for a few more decades. Her last military service was in James V’s navy, after which, from the 1540s or so, she was retired from active engagement but was fired on important ceremonial occasions like the signing of the treaty of marriage between five-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, and three-year-old Francis, Dauphin of France, in July 1558.

She was fired for the last time on October 14th, 1681. Here’s a description of the event from the Domestic Annals of Scotland (1859) by Robert Chambers. The quote within the quote is from Historical Notices of Scottish Affairs (1848) by Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall. The Duke of York paying a visit to the Castle of Edinburgh, the huge cannon called Mons Meg was fired in his honour. The charge, which was done by an English cannoneer, had probably been too large, for it caused the piece to burst. This “some foolishly called a bad omen. The Scots resented it extremely, thinking the Englishman might of malice have done it purposely, they having no cannon in all England so big as she.” I am trying really hard not to snicker at the obvious phallic competition inherent in this struggle. Trying and failing. With the burst hoop exposing her internal staves, Mons Meg could never be fired again. She still starred in several tugs of war between England and Scotland, though.

In the wake of the Jacobite rebellion, in 1754 Mons Meg, now rusted, busted and sitting on the ground without even the dignity of a carriage, was confiscated along with other weapons to keep them out of reach of potential rebels. She was moved to the Tower of London, but she didn’t go quietly. The Tower records list a demand for compensation from the owner of the ship that brought her to London for damage to the vessel and mooring rope. In 1829, George IV had Mons Meg returned to Edinburgh as a result of a campaign by Sir Walter Scott and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Scott believed fervently in a legendary Galloway origin story for Mons Meg . When James the Second arrived with an army at Carlingwark, to besiege the Castle of Threave, the McLellans presented him with the piece of ordnance now called ‘Mons Meg.’ The first discharge of this great gun is said to have consisted of a peck of powder and a granite ball nearly as heavy as a Galloway cow.

This ball is believed, in its course through the Castle of Threave, to have carried away the hand of Margaret de Douglas, commonly called the Fair Maid of Galloway, as she sat at table with her lord, and was in the act of raising the wine-cup to her lips. Old people still maintain that the vengeance of God was thereby evidently manifested, in destroying the hand which had been given in wedlock to two brothers, and that even while the lawful spouse of the first was alive. Even without having amputated Margaret de Douglas’ hand, Mons Meg was and is still beloved. She was escorted back to Edinburgh Castle in 1829 by three cavalry troops and a regiment of foot, and remains today a great favorite with visitors to Edinburgh Castle. The conservation is expected to be complete and Mons Meg back in place outside St. Margaret’s Chapel by the end of February.

Question: In the grounds of which building is the cannon called 'Mons 'Meg'?
Answer: EDINBURGH CASTLE